Q8 - Vervet monkeys use different alarm

[nazu.s.shaikh]

What I don't understand about this question is why Db is correct and A is not.

How does A not explain the difference in behavior among the monkeys?



Thanks!

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

For such an early question in the section, this one is actually challenging!

Keep in mind what needs to be explained. We need to find an answer choice that explains not just why vervet monkeys have different alarm calls, but why they have different alarm calls depending on whether the predator is coming from the land or from the air. Answer choice (A) may explain the former, but does not explain the latter. Answer choice (D), however, explains why vervet monkeys use different alarm calls depending on whether the predator is approaching from the land or from the air - their response depends on where the threat is coming from.

(A) explains the multiple alarm sounds, but not different calls depending on whether the threat is coming from the land or the air.
(B) is completely irrelevant. How many deaths each predator is responsible for tells us nothing about why the vervet monkey would need different alarm calls depending on whether the threat comes from the land or the air.
(C) makes the situation all the more confusing. According to this answer choice, vervet monkeys would have no need of different alarm calls.
(D) explains the behavior of the vervet monkeys. If the response to the threat depends on where the threat is coming from, then it makes sense to have different alarm calls.
(E) describes a difference in the predators behavior depending on whether the predator attacks from the land or from the air, but we're looking to explain the vervet monkeys' need to distinguish the threats as either coming from the land or from the air. This would require a difference in behavior on the monkeys' part, not the predators'.

I hope this helps clear things up! Let me know if you still need some help with this question...

[funner567]

Ok i can see why "D" would be the correct answer, but why not "C".

Above you state that "C" would imply that there is no need for a variation in calls. But this is how i understood "C"...

Since the predators cannot attack from BOTH land and air there would be need for two different calls. One to signal these vervet monkeys that they are attacking from land, and another to signal they are attacking from air. Thus, "vervet monkeys use DIFFERENT alarm calls to warn each other of nearby predators DEPENDING on whether the danger comes from land OR from the air"

what is wrong in my method of thinking?

[sweliz]

I selected C as well. It seems to explain why they have two different calls.

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Since the predators cannot attack from BOTH land and air there would be need for two different calls. One to signal these vervet monkeys that they are attacking from land, and another to signal they are attacking from air. Thus, "vervet monkeys use DIFFERENT alarm calls to warn each other of nearby predators DEPENDING on whether the danger comes from land OR from the air"

what is wrong in my method of thinking?

Answer choice (C) rules rule out the possibility that any one predator could attack from both the air and land, but it does NOT imply that vervet monkeys are indeed attacked from both directions - which is what I think you're reasoning would assume.

Regardless, why would it matter if the threat was coming from the land or the air, if your response would be the same? It makes sense that to have a different alarm if your response is going to be different. But if your response is simply to "run!" then it doesn't matter.

What do you guys think?

[cinderellarose14]

I also selected C because D does not rule out the possibilities of the predators coming from both air and the land. Think about it if predators can attack both ways then the two alarm calls system according to D will break down because they can't climb trees and dive under foliage at the same time.

So when I was looking at this question my mental process was "C was kind of required for this system to work but D was a kind of sufficient (more than sufficient but it is lacking the required part)" so I went with C...

I have to say both were tempting and I am just still not convinced why D is the best explanation...

[senorhosh]

C seems plausible. However, it requires you to take a big leap.

D shows exactly WHY they have two alarm calls: one to climb trees and one to dive in foliage.

C makes sense too but you need an assumption:
Vervet monkeys have 2 different reactions to each alarm calls (which would be D). Even if vervet monkeys have 2 alarm calls, if the reaction is the same, there would be no point (as mentioned before)

[kylelitfin]

C seems plausible. However, it requires you to take a big leap.

D shows exactly WHY they have two alarm calls: one to climb trees and one to dive in foliage.

C makes sense too but you need an assumption:
Vervet monkeys have 2 different reactions to each alarm calls (which would be D). Even if vervet monkeys have 2 alarm calls, if the reaction is the same, there would be no point (as mentioned before)

What was helpful for me in choosing between (C) and (D) was the following.

(C) is such a resolve the paradox answer choice... but there is no paradox here.

Let's go with (C) and bring it back to the argument. So this eliminated the possibility of the land/air predator (whom I will agree, if this type of creature existed the usefulness of land and air warning calls would be threatened)... BUT, this still doesn't really explain WHY they use these calls. Now, if the argument said something along the lines of: Monkeys ONLY have two types of warning calls, one for land predators and one for air predators... we would have something. Why only two calls? Because predators cannot be both land/air predators and thus, only two calls are needed.

But with (D) we have a nice simple reason as why they use these calls. The land warning means head for the trees, and the air warning means hide in the bushes! Seems good to me.

Moreover, if we're going to get extremely picky with semantics consider the following:

stimulus phrase "danger comes from" VS (C) phrase "attack... from"

The stimulus is discussing a warning from approaching predators, with that in mind, let's say a bird CAN attack from both land or air... well that's great, but if it's approaching from the air and the warning call gets all of the monkeys to hide in the shrubs before it arrives, whether or not it can attack from air or land is irrelevant right? Can't see them because they sent out the warning.

Hopefully this helps!

[aeglorre]

I think the issue for us that selected C is that we interpret the questions as "why are there two different calls?", whereas those who picked D interpret it as "what is the desired effect/purpose of using different calls?". Clearly, the monkeys want to warn their pals and thus when someone attacks from land the desired effect is for the pals to climb UP, and vice versa for air attacks. Thus D makes most sense. But if we define it as "why are there two calls", then C makes most sense because it explains how the threat is identified, through the call. But of course, C is subordinate D because - as mentioned above - we assume reactions are different when we pick C. C makes sense but is subordinate D thus D is correct.

[Aquamarine]

This question is still killing me.
I read explanations above for several times and was trying to find out what's the difference between C and D, but I still don't understand why C can't be an answer.

If there're no predators which pose a danger to the monkeys and attack both from land and the air just like C said, can C be an answer too because it can also explain why the monkeys use different alarm calls?

Why C can't be an answer and D is right?
What's the difference between them?

Please someone explain me.
Thanks!

[hwangbo.edu]

This question is still killing me.
I read explanations above for several times and was trying to find out what's the difference between C and D, but I still don't understand why C can't be an answer.

If there're no predators which pose a danger to the monkeys and attack both from land and the air just like C said, can C be an answer too because it can also explain why the monkeys use different alarm calls?

Why C can't be an answer and D is right?
What's the difference between them?

Please someone explain me.
Thanks!

This is a tricky question if you circled Answer C (ah-ha!) and didn't continue POE to see Answer D (even better!). The question asks, Which one of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of the described behavior of vervet monkeys described in the stimulus?

1. Answer C is incomplete. Sure it suggests something with predator capabilities but still requires us to make an assumption (which Answer D provides) to explain the monkeys' behavior.

2. Answer C is irrelevant. Let's say, contrary to Answer C, there was a predator that could attack from both the land and air. Wouldn't the monkeys' behavior remain the same, depending on how the predator was attacking (i.e., rather than predator capabilities)?

3. In contrast, Answer D provides two different reasons for the two different behaviors ("Vervet monkeys avoid...").

Given these reasons, wouldn't you agree that Answer D contributes more to an explanation than Answer C? Hope this helps.